Flow gun



NOvI. 21, 1944. J, s, `STEWART 2,363,023

Filed Sept. 12, 1941 automobile body,

Patented New. 21, 1944 2,363,023 t FLOW GUN John s. stewart, Port washington, N. Y., assignor to Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company, St. Paul,

Delaware inn., a corporation of Application .September 12, 1941, Serial No. 410,564

' 1 claims. (ci. 11a-.3.5)

This invention relates to nozzles or guns that are used to dispense owable material which is supplied to the gun under pressure.

More particularly it relates to guns used in dispensing extremely viscous material and placing it on surfaces or in crevices, seams, corners, grooves, rabbets, etc.

Such guns are usually of a nozzle-like design, attached to the end of a hose that conducts the material `from a pressure pump to the gun, equipped with a valve that is opened and closed by a trigger or handle and with a tip or outlet port of a size and shape to suit the particular operation for which the gun is employed. In coating a broad surface (such as the inside of an automobile body, for example) with a layer of cement, the nozzle tip will be shaped to spread an even coating over as wide a space as possible. In caulking seams the tip will be shaped accordingly. In filling a crevice (as in glazing, i. e., setf ting sheets of glass in frames), the nozzle tip may serve the additional function of being a beading spoon or shaping trowel to press or to draw the material into and along the rdesired shape and place. In applying paint, as in striping` an the striping tip will be of appropriate'design.

`A problem which has heretofore been unsolved in any oi' the prior guns known to meis the accurate delivery and placement of material that is extremely viscous including material that con,- tains libres. Movement of such material from its storage tank through the necessary hose and nozzle (or gun) to its ultimate position in use requires high pressures, sometimes of 1000 pounds or more at the pump. When the gun is open the pressure at the gun tip is suiciently low to produce a moderate ow that can be neatly handled by an experienced operator; but when the valve in the old type of gunlis closed the pressure builds up throughout the system until the pressure at the gun tip is equal to that at the pump, The result is that when the old type gun is again opened there is a great `surge of material which is harmful in many operations especially in fine accurate sealing operations such as glazing.

Another weakness of prior guns is that their mechanisms become sticky and they often clog when dispensing extremely sticky or viscous materials, especially when the gun is laid aside momentarily during use. Therefore a second problem is to produce a gun capable of handling such materials without sticking. 'I'his problem and the problem of surging are somewhat linked together surging must retain sulilcientl simplicity to avoid sticking; and, conversely, the mechanism cannot be simplified or rearranged to the extent of per.- mitting surging.

Another problem is to design valves and passageways which will not clog when libre-containing cements are dispensed.

Another problem (which is encountered particularly in glazing) is to secure a nozzle tip of a shape that will permit rapid and accurate placement of cement to fornismooth lines and good corners with the minimum requirementl of skill on the part of the operator.

Consequently,` objects of this invention include the construction of a gun which will, inter alia,

solve the above problems. Guns which have been constructed according to the have been found so to do.

Briey the present invention comprises the provision in a flow gun of a plurality of successively opening valves and in another aspect the invention provides a glazing gun with a tip of substantially square or diamond shape.

More particularly the invention provides a gun having a chamber or barrel with a nozzle valve and a breech valve and means foroperating said valves inl synchronism to secure an opening `or closing of the ports, adapted to open the outlet port and thereafter gradually open the breech port in initiating dispensing operation and to gradually close the breech port andthereafter close the outlet port in terminating dispensing operation, and a trigger mechanism for manual control of the valve operating means.

The device that .is described and illustrated herein as an example of an embodiment oi' the present invention is a portable glazing gun. adapted toapply plastic glazing or sealing material, lncluding fibre-containing material, to the putty rabbets in the setting' of sheets of glass in frames, said material being supplier'. to the gun rear portion or breech I0 and a forward por- The barrel is bored with the bore I la alongits longitudinal axis throughout its in that any mechanism designed to overcome 55 entire length except at the forward end where present invention the bore follows the downward turn of the nozzles tip,v The breech structure I is bored throughout its length with the bore Ia coaxial with the gun bore I la.

The forward end of the breech structure is counterbored and threaded to form the chamber I0b which is threaded along its full length. The breech of the barrel II is reduced in size and threa'ded to iit into the chamber IDb s0 that the barrel may be held to the breech structure in removably fixed relation by threaded engagement therewith.

The cement or other viscous or owable material which is supplied to the gun under pressure (usually through a hose), enters the gun through the hose coupling I2 which is removably held in the breech structure by threaded engagement therewith and which removably holds the supply hose (not shown) by threaded engagement. The

coupling is bored along its long axis to pass the cement which flows from the supply hose through the coupling and into the main bore I la of the gun by passing through a connecting entrance passage I3 which extends from the bore of the coupling I2 upwardly into the chamber IIlb. The axis of passage I3 runs forwardly and, as it happens in this particular embodiment shown in the drawing, when extended makes an acute angle with the axis of bore Itlb.

The passage or bore I3 is counterbored at its rear end to form the guns inlet port or chamber i3a which is threaded to receive the coupling I2. The forward end of the chamber is preferably left unthreaded and this, plus the shoulder formed by the counterbore, adapts it to receive a washershaped choke I4 which is pierced with a ilcw oriflce Ida. The choke is removable to permit substituting c hokes with flow orifices of various sizes.

The material passes from the entrance passage I3 into the main bore IIa in the barrel of the gun through the breech port Ilia in the valve sleeve I5 which is in the rear end of chamber I0b in threaded engagement therewith. The bore of the sleeve is coaxial with the main bore Ila of the barrel, and the breech port I 5a admits the material into the sleeve bore (and thereby into the barrel bore IIa) from the entrance passage I3.

The breech port I5a is closed by the sliding valve I-Ga on the valve stem I6 which is slidably held in the bore Ia which extends rearwardly through the breech structure coaxial with the gunbore Ila. The breech valve is a cylindrical valve which closes the breech port by sliding across it. The shoulder on the valve stem I6 which is formed at the point where the forward portion of the stem'is reduced in diameter, is 1ocated a short distance forward of the breech port when the valve is in closed position (as shown in Figure 2 of the drawing). The side of the valve adjacent the port is tapered gradually toward the shoulder so that when the valve is opened bymoving it rearwardly, it opens gradually. This taper begins sufficiently far forward of the port l to leave an unreduced portion 0f the cylindrical part of the valve extending forwardly of the port so that the valve has to move rearwardly for a distance before the port begins to open.

From the valve Ilia rearwardly, the valve stem I6 fits snugly within the bore Illa; additionally the breech structure is counterbored at its rear end .and a suitable packing I'I is held in place around the valve stem in the counterbore by the threaded sleeve I8, to prevent flow of material rearwardly.

wardly against the'spring 2 I.

The valve stem I6 extends rearwardly from the gun for a distance and is slidablysupported at its rear end by being passed through-a suitable aperture in the closed end I9a of the U1,l shaped bracket I9 which is screwed to the sides `of the gun. A collar 20 is fixed-upon the valve `stern rearwardly ofthe gun. Behind the collar a spring 2| is coiled around the valve stem between the collar and the end I9a of the bracket (with suitable washers etc., between the ends of the spring and the gun parts). The spring is loaded to press the valve stem forwardly whereby the valve I-Iia normally closes the port lia.

The valve stem I6 is moved rearwardly by a trigger or handle 22 which is pivoted on the pin 23 between the arms of the bifurcated upward projection I'Ilc at the rear of the gun. I'he downwardly turned rear end of the handle is bifurcated to form the arms 22a and 22h between which the valve stem is held. A freely turning pin 24,r

pierces the arms 22a and 22b, also thevalve stem I6 and the collar 20 so that downward pressure on the handle 22 impels the valve stem rear- Set-screw 25 limits the downward movement of the handle and thereby the rearward movement of the valve stem.

The forward portion of the valve stem I6 which extends forwardly into the barrel is reduced in diameter and the adjacent bore Ila has a suiiciently large diameter so that the material may have space in which to move forwardly between the valve stem and the wall of the bore toward the tip ofl the nozzle at or near which point the bore IIa is reduced in size in such a manner as to form a shoulder or seat IIb which is adapted to receive the cone-shaped nozzle valve i6b which is on the forward tip of the valve stem, whereby to close the outlet port in the muzzle or nozzle. This seating of the nozzle valve |617 may serve as a stop against further forward movement of the valve stem, or, the collar 20 may be fixed at such a point on the valve stem that it presses against the rear face of the sleeve I8 at the same time that 'the nozzle valve seats, thereby reducing the pressure on said valve.

The two Avalves are preferably shaped and positioned on the stem. so that as the'handle is pressed by the operator to initiate a dispensing operation and the valve stem begins to move rearwardly, the nozzle valve |6b opens before the second or breech valve Ilia opens and so that when the breech valve does open, it provides at first only a very small aperture as compared with thatof the nozzle valve, and so that said aperture.increases in size at a rate of speedv slower than the speed of the opening of the nozzle valve. In shutting off the gun to yterminate a dispensing operation, the rear valve I6a closes gradually and closes first. The nozzle valve Ilib is preferably close behind the discharge tip.

The use of these two valves, one at each end of the barrel, prevents surging when the glazing or other material is released to initiate dispensing operation. The 4static pressure exerted` by this material may be as high as 1000 pounds per square inch when not flowing, and if merely released from a nozzle there would normally be a surge before regular ilow became established. In accordance with this invention, the initial opening of the nozzle Valve causes no surge of material since the .breech valve is still closed and the material in the barrel remains stationary. Then as .the breech valve gradually opens, the

ascaoaa 3 material under pressure behind this valve graaiu alLv flows into the breech and the material which is Ialready in the barrel ls propelled forwardly and out the nozzle without surging, since the mai terial in the barrelacts as a shock absorber and resists the pressure of the small amount of material which first comes into the breech, the high initial pressure behind the breech valve spending itself in forcing the plastic material through the barrel and nozzlf;` That is, the space within the gun bore along the barrel between the nozzle and breech valves forms a chamber or reservoir" which provides a'column of plasticV material that stands motionless at zero pressure after the g'un is shut otl' and which acts as a shock absorber when the breech valve is opened, thereby contributing to the ultimate result which the gun produces, namely the elimination of substantially all sudden surging of material out of the tip upon opening the gun.

When the gun is being shut ofi by releasing the handle 22 to permit the spring 2| to push the valve stem forwardly, the breech valve ia gradually closes first, thus giving the material in the bore of the gun time to spend its pressure before the nozzle valve lib closes. However the nozzle valve preferably closes quickly enough after the breech valve closes to prevent material from dribbling out and to hold within the barrel the above mentioned shock absorber" column of motionless material which is at zero pressure.

. have been found capable of dispensing extremely sticky or viscous material without the valve stem, packing, or other working parts becoming sticky or clogged enough to hinder the guns efficient performance. A

Thisis thought to be due broadly to lthe reduction 4to a minimum of any opportunity' for the line pressurev to be exerted directly against the packing and the closely fitted moving parts. In the present embodiment such parts include the rear portion of the valve stem I6, its supporting bore Illa and the packing I1. With the valve stem being thus supported at a point well to the rear of the valves and of the breech port I5a through which the material enters the barrel, the only point on the said moving parts at which the full line pressure from the supply hose is ever directly exerted is through the relatively small breech port I5a against the wall of the cylindrical valve ISa.

|Among other factors which may contribute to the elimination of the sticking are the use of the sliding cylinder type valve' |6a at the breech: the

i mounting of the valves ona single stem whose supporting means` n(thebore Illa) is well out of thev direct path of the high pressure stream of ma terial through the gun; employment of a breech valve that permits removal of any packing (l1) from direct contact with the high pressure stream. A

The outlet port or nozzle tip may be of a size and shape to suit the material and the operation that is being performed.

In the illustrated embodiment (which is a glazing gun) the discharge tip turns 'downwardly and f ls fitted with a detachable beading spoon (or pointing spoon, trowel or shaping tip) 26, having a flow orifice that opens within the area of the troweling surface and having a ilat or plane substantially square troweling surface positioned with one diagonal of the square parallel to a plane passing through the guns longitudinal axis (as `shown in Figure 1) so that in relation to the gun as a whole it is diamond-shalrled.` 4In the illustrated embodiment the one diagonal is approximately coincident with a plane passing through the guns longitudinal axis `but since 'the same "diamond-shape effect could be retained even though the tip were located with the diagonal to one side of the plane, making it parallel thereto instead of exactly coincident therewith, the description in`the claims of the diagonal as being substantially parallel to the plane is intended to inclllude a diagonal that is coincident therewith as we l The plane surface of the trowel, however, may form any convenient angle with the guns axis.

` In the present embodiment it is substantially par,-

allel thereto, as shown in Figure 2.

The square trowel (as shown in Figure l) may be somewhat elongated if desired, to form a` parallelogram so 'as to make it conform more closelyto what is commonly termed diamondshape`\lor it may be rectangular without departing from the spirit of the invention. 'I'he shape and angular or diamond-shaped position of the tip (i. e. with one corner or point foremost) is regarded as one of' the novel and important features of this invention. This shape, andangle,

particularly in glazing, lends itself to a natural drawing action when the rabbet is being lllled by a stroke of the gun, permits faster and more accurate shaping of corners, affords better vision for the operator than prior art tips, makes it easier Ito get smoother lines and reduces the amount of manual skill ordinarily required for all phasesI of the glazing operation.

While suitable dimensions of glazing guns or like dispensing apparatus of the present inven tion will be apparent from the above description to those skilled in the art, depending upon the particular circumstances and material to be dispensed, etc., the following approximate dimensions are given for the sake of further clarity and by way of example: lthe overall length of the gun may be on the order of six toeight inches; the diameters of the nozzle port and of the breech port may be approximately one-eighth inch and the distance between them of the order of two inches; the inside diameter of the barrel may be from one-half to three-fourths inch; and the beading spoon may be `from three-eighths to Onehalf inch squarewith a one-eighth inch flow ori- The above approximate dimensions indicate the general size and proportions of a glazing gun adapted to dispense viscous rubber-containing.

glazing cements, in setting sheets of glass in 1 frames, the cements being supplied to the gun under high pressures such as 1000 pounds per square inch at the pump. A detailed description of types of glazing cements which may be applied withthe gun of this invention is given in the copending application of Grant S. Merrill Serial No.. 380,078 filed February 21, 1941. It -is of course understood that the dimensions and proportions of the gun and the relative size of the various orifices would vary with the type and viscosity of the ma.y

terial being dispensed, conditions of application such as temperature and pressure, and the type of operation being performed.

Also it will be clear that the principles and advantages of nthis invention may be employed by constructing a gun or dispensing mechanism which is very diierent in general appearance.

For example, where the breech valve and Anozzle valve are operated by electrical means (which may be actuated by the operator in the desired .Synchronism by the movement of a single button or lever, such as handle 22), it will be evident that the valve stem I6 might be eliminated, or very differently constructed, and the chamber between ports Ia and lib might be of an entirely different shape, e. y. of tortuous or irregular shape.

All variations and embodiments adapted to provide the advantages, or to follow the vprinciples of this invention, are comprehended herein.

What I claim is as follows: 1. A non-surging glazing gun for dispensing viscous cement which is supplied to the gun under high pressure comprising a barrel, a nozzle on the muzzle end'of said barre1 having an outlet port, the tip of said nozzle being formed into a l beading spoon with a substantially square plane troweling surface that is substantially parallel to the guns longitudinal axis and one diagonal of said square being substantially parallel to the guns longitudinal axis, a nozzle valve in said nozzle to open and to close the said outlet port, a breech mechanism attached to said barrel having an inlet port adapted to retain a removable choke member and having a connecting entrance passage for conducting the material from the inlet port to the breech and having a breech po'rt for admitting the material from said entrance passage into the barre1, a breech valve for opening and closing said breech port, a valve stem slidably supported in said breech mechanism co axial with the barrel and extending into said barrel upon which stem the said valves are located in fixed relationship, the saidvvalves being shaped and positioned so that rearward movement of the said stem will open the nozzle valve nrst and the breech valve second with the latter being opened more slowly than the former in initiating dispensing operations, and forward 4 2,363,023 .Y spaced relationship, the said stem being coaxial with the said valves and with the said barrel and movement of the stem will close the breech valve rst and the nozzle valve second with the former being closed more slowly than the latter in terminating dispensing operations, and a trigger mechanism for manual control of the valve operating means.

2. A gun adapted for dispensing viscous glazing cements under high pressure and with substantialffreedom from surging comprising a barre1, a nozzle at the muzzle of the b arrel having an outlet port, the tip of said nozzle being formed into a beading spoon with a substantially square plane troweling surface substantially parallel to the guns longitudinal axis, one diagonal of said square being substantially parallel to the guns v 'drawal of the cylinder from across the breech port will gradually open the port, a single valve stem on which the valves are located in fixed slidably supported at a point to the' rear of the valves and to the' rear of said breech port, the said valves being shaped'and positioned so that in initiating a dispensing operation movement of the valve stem will open the nozzle valve first and the breech valve second with the latter being opened more slowly than the former, and in terminating a dispensing operation movement of the stem will gradually close the breech valve first and thereafter close the nozzle valve, the said ports being suillciently spaced apart and the said barrel being of suiiicient size to form a chamber between said ports to hold a quantity of the said material sufcient to act as a shock absorbing column to assist in preventing surging at the nozzle upon opening the valves, an inlet port through which the material is conducted to the said breech port, said inlet port being adapted to receive a removable choke member having a flow orifice, and a trigger mechanism for manual control of the valve stem.

' 3. A gun adapted for dispensing viscous glazing cements under high pressure and with substantial freedom from surging comprising a barrel, a nozzle at the muzzle of the barrel having an outlet port, the tip of said nozzle being formed into a beading spoon with a substantially square plane troweling surface, one diagonal of said square being substantially parallel to a plane passing through the guns longitudinal axis so as to form a diamond-shaped tip with one point cf the diamond leading, a breech mechanism having'a port for admitting said material into the barrel, a nozzle valve adapted to open and to close the said outlet port and a sliding breech valve in the form of a cylinder which fills the gun bore and is coaxial therewith and stops the breech port by-lying across it and whose end is tapered so that withdrawal of the cylinder from across the breech port will gradually open the port, a single valve `stem on which the valves are located in nxed spaced relationship, the said stem being` coaxial with the said valves and with the said barre1 and slidably supported at a point to the rear of the valves and to the rear of said breech port, the said valves being shaped and positioned so that in initiating a dispensing operation movement of the valve stem will open the nozzle valve first and the breech valve second with the latter being opened more slowly than the former, and in terminating a dispensing operation movement of the stem will gradually close the breech valve rst and thereafter close the A nozzle valve, the said ports being sufficiently spaced apart and the said barrel being of suilcient size to form a chamber between said ports to hold a quantity of the said material sufiicient to act as a shock absorbing column to assist in preventing surging at the nozzle`upon opening the valves, an inlet port through which the material is conducted to'the said breeh port, said l inletl lport being adapted to receive a removable choke member having a flow orice, and a trigger mechanism for manual control of the valve stem.

4. A non-surging glazing gun for dispensing viscous cement which is supplied to the gun under high pressure comprising a barrel, a nozzle on the muzzle end of said barrel having an outlet port', the tip of said nozzle being formed into a beading spoon with a substantially square plane troweling surface that is substantially parallel to thev guns longitudinal axis and one diagonal of said square being substantially parallel to the guns longiaseaoss cated in fixed relationship, the said valves being shaped and positioned so that rearward movement of the said stem will open the nozzle valve first and the breech valve second with the .latter being opened more slowly than the former in initiating dispensing operations, and forward movement of the stem will close the breech valves4 first and the nozzle valve second with the former means.

5. A non-surging glazing gun for dispensing V viscous cement which is supplied to the gun under high pressure comprising a barrel, a nozzle on the muzzle end oi' said barrel having an outlet port, the tip of said nozzle being formed into a beading spoon with a substantially square plane troweling surface, one diagonal of said squarek being substantially parallel to a plane passing through the guns longitudinal axis, a nozzle valve in said nozzle to open and to close the said high pressure comprising a barrel, a nozzle on the muzzle endof said barrel having an outlet port, the tip of said nozzle being formed into a beading spoon with a substantially square plane troweling surface, one diagonal oi said square being substantially parallel to a plane passing through the guns longitudinal axis, a nozzle valve in said nozzle to open and to close the said outlet port, a breech mechanism attached to said barrel havin'g an entrance passage for conducting the material from a source of supply to the Vbreech .andhaving a breech port for admitting the material from said entrance passage into the barrel, a breech valve for'opening and closing said breech port, a valve stem slidably supported in said breech mechanism coaxial `with the barrel and extendinginto said barrel upon which stem the said valves are located in iixed relationship. the said valves being shaped and positioned so that rearward movement of the said stem will open the nozzle valve first and the breech valve second with the latter being opened more slowly outlet port, a breech mechanism attached to and barrel having an inlet port adapted to retain a removable choke member and having a connecting entrance passage for conducting the material l from the inlet port to the. breech and having a breech port for admitting the material `from said entrance passage intoA the barrel, a breech valve for opening and closing said breech port, a valve stem slidably supported in said breech mechanism coaxial with the barrel and extending into said barrel upon which stem the said valves are locabd in xed relationship. the said valves being shaped and positioned so that rearward movement of the saidstemwillopen thenoazlevalvefirstand the breech valvesecond with the latter being opened more slowly than the. former in initiating dispensing operations, and forward movement of thestemwillcloeethebreechvalveiirstandthe nozzle valve second with the former being closed than the former in initiating dispensing operations, and forward movement of the stem will close the breech valve rst and the nozzle valve second with the formerbeing closed more slowly than the latterin terminating dispensing operations, and a trigger mechanism for manual control of the valve operating means.

1. A. non-surging glazing gun for dispensing viscous cement which is supplied to the gun under high pressure comprising a barrel, a nozzle on the muzzle end'of said barrel havingI an outlet port, the tip of said nozzle being formed into a beading spoon with a substantially square plane troweling surface, one diagonal of said square being substantially parallel to a plane passing through the guns longitudinal axis, a nozzle valve in said nozzle to open and to close the said outlet port, a breech mechanism attached to said barrel having an entrance passage for conductlng the material from a source of supply to the moreslowlytliauthelatterinterminatlngciis-v pensing operations. and atrigger mechanism for manualcontrolofthevalveoperatingmeans.

6. A non-surging glazing gun for dispensing viseouseementwhichissuppliedtothegunrmder breech and having a breech port for admitting the material from said entrance passage into the barrel', a breech valve for opening and closing 4said breech port, means -for operating said valves tosecureanopeningoftheportsinsynchronism such that the nozzle valve will be opened first and the breech valve second with the latter being opened more slowly than the former in initiating dispensing operations, and such that the breech valve willbe closed nrst and thenozzlevalve second with the former being closed more slowly than the latter in terminating dispensing operations, and a trigger-mechanism for manual control of the valve operating means.

v JQHN, 8. STEWART. 

